20th Annual Course on Religion, Spirituality and Health – Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health

General Information

Our next 5-day research course on spirituality and health will be held on August 12-16, 2024. Register early to ensure a spot. The course has been over-subscribed every year (see photos and participant bios from prior classes below). The course focuses on how to conduct research on religion, spirituality and health, and how to develop an academic career in this area, and compresses training material that was previously taught during our Duke post-doctoral fellowship (which was discontinued in 2010). Leading religion-health researchers from Duke, Yale and Emory will give presentations. If requested, there will also be time to discuss individual research projects with faculty — participants will each have 30 minutes one-on-one with Dr. Koenig or with another course faculty mentor of their choice (early registration will assure one of these mentorship spots). May include limited mentorship by Dr. Koenig to assist in implementation of research at participant’s home institution. Faculty for the course are Dan G. Blazer (psychiatry, epidemiology), Benjamin Doolittle (pediatrics, physician and clergy well-being/burnout), Allison Lewinski (nursing, qualitative research), Warren Kinghorn (theology, psychiatry), Harold G. Koenig (psychiatry, medicine, nursing), John P. Oliver (chaplain research, PTSD), and Redford Williams (behavioral medicine). Topics that will be covered include:

Resources for learning more about spirituality and health
Previous research on religion, spirituality and health
Strengths and weaknesses of previous research
Applying findings to clinical practice
Understanding mechanisms
Theological considerations and concerns (Warren Kinghorn)
Family and personal issues relevant to religion-health researchers
Highest priority studies for future research
Strengths and weaknesses of religion/spirituality measures
Designing different types of research projects
Qualitative research (Allison Lewinski)
Biological and genetic mechanisms (Redford Williams)
Carrying out and managing a research project
Statistics and modeling
Writing a grant to NIH or private foundations
Where to obtain funding for research in this area
Writing a research paper for publication; getting it published
Presenting research to professional and public audiences
Working with the media
Developing research and academic careers in this area (Dan Blazer and Harold Koenig)

The course is open to all interested in learning about or conducting scientific research or academic work in this area, regardless of level of training. This workshop is specifically designed for established researchers, new investigators, and graduate students, including those in medicine, nursing, psychology, sociology, chaplaincy, theology, pastoral counseling, public health, or other related disciplines. Non-researchers including interested laypersons, undergraduate college students, and clergy are also welcome. Basic and advanced materials will be presented, depending on the needs of participants. The course will take place in Durham, North Carolina, at a location about 5 miles from Duke campus. For those with serious financial hardships who are pursuing careers involving research in this area, partial tuition scholarships are available. For more information about these workshops, contact Dr. Koenig at e-mail: Harold.Koenig@duke.edu

CME/CEU Information

If desired, psychologists, physicians, nurses, chaplains, social workers, and other health professionals will receive a certificate indicating that this activity is equivalent to 32.0 hours of credit, although the participant will have to obtain approval from their local institution or national certifying body for these credits.

Faculty Biosketches (PDF)
Dan G. Blazer, MD, PhD
Benjamin Doolittle, MD, MDiv
Allison Lewinski, RN, PhD
Warren Kinghorn, MD, ThD
Harold G. Koenig, MD, MHSc
John P. Oliver, BCC, DMin
Redford Williams, MD

Tentative Schedule and Curriculum (PDF)

Tuition and Registration (PDF) for both 5-day Research Workshop Aug 12-16 and 1-day Integrating Spirituality into Care Workshop Aug 17

Directions to Location of Workshop (PDF)

Recommended Accommodations (PDF)

Partial Tuition Reduction Scholarship Information (PDF)

Facebook Page (exclusively for workshop participants)